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    Monday, September 15, 2008

    Predicament

    Sometimes I have to stop and wonder how I get myself into stupid situations. Today was one of the best examples.

    Our area has received over 6 inches of rain in the past couple of days. Thank you, Ike. The rivers crested today several feet above flood levels. The park where I walk is surrounded by rivers and as I drove there today, I could see that Mother Nature had bequested her wrath on our city.

    I have some issues when it comes to challenging myself. I try to do something every day that scares me. Today was no exception. I threw caution to the wind as I started on my walk. Water was over the path just beyond the parking lot but I was able to easily get around it.

    The amount that the river had risen was amazing. It was hard to tell where the river banks had once been as the water spilled over. I was easily a mile and a half from my car when I noticed more water where there was no way around it. I decided that it wasn't going to kill me if I got my feet a little wet. The water was only a few inches deep as I began to wade through it. A few inches quickly became twelve and then went above my knees. I was positive that the water would not get any deeper so I stayed the course.

    I hadn't paid attention to how far I had walked until I looked back across the water. I took notice of where the path ahead of me had once been. The water got deeper, almost reaching my special girl parts. This is when I panicked. All thoughts went to the fact that flood waters always mix with raw sewage. My skin began to crawl. I am a major germophobe (I buy hand sanitizer by the gallon).

    Somewhere, there is a path where I used to walk:



    At this point, I became painfully aware of how people drown in floods. The current was tugging on my soaking pants as logs banged into my legs. I am an excellent swimmer but my biggest concern was that I was going to get my cell phone wet. I had to calm myself down as I took a break from walking. Water was everywhere around me and I could no longer tell where the path had been. I almost cried when I got over the bridge that I was sure would be dry on the other side. All I could see was water.


    I took out my phone and tried to keep myself from calling for help but quickly realized that I was the idiot that put myself in this situation. How stupid was I going to look?


    I had this brilliant idea that I would climb this gigantic hill to get out of the water. I knew that the cemetery was up there. I pulled myself up and made it out of the water and didn't even fall.

    I walked back, passing several joggers as my shoes squished. They gave me the strangest looks when they saw that my pants were wet all the way to my hoo ha.

    From now on, I will heed all flood warnings and steer clear of Mother Nature. My mother warned me about getting in the water before I left. I guess mothers are pretty smart when it comes to these things, myself not included.



    15 comments:

    Sicilian said...

    Wow . . . . who'd thunk it would happen so fast. . . .I guess the good news is your are safe. . . . your car was safe. Clothes and skin get clean. . . you are a one in a million.
    I am glad you could tell the story and live from it.
    Ciao

    Pam said...

    ah yes, flood waters..no telling how deep they can be until you're up to your knees or 'hoo ha' in it. i'm glad that you got out of it safely.

    back in vegas, before the drought, it rained like crazy the first few summers i was there. people would drive their cars through it, get stuck, and some...well, you can only imagine their fate.

    even though you may look back on it as a stupid thing to do, you showed you had enough strength, courage, and smarts to pull yourself out of a tough situation. i probably would have panicked AND i'm not a good swimmer.

    barman said...

    I am glad you got yourself out of that jam. And I can not believe how high that water must be. That path is a ways above the water I believe at the point I think you were at. I am so glad you did not end up off the path.

    Going into work I noticed this one area that they had packed a lot of dirt down where a automotive plant once existed. Now there was a lot of dirt missing as the water found it's path of least resistance and washed away probably 5 to 10 tons of that dirt. All this from more or less gentle rain. A lot of rain, just not hard rain. Anyway water is a powerful thing. Be careful. You never know when the water just might wash out the earth.

    Mona said...

    wow! that is like India these days!

    I am glad you could make out of it!

    I LOVE that picture!

    Sheri said...

    Snort, you said "whoo ha"

    lime said...

    eesh, i am glad things didn't get worse. listen to your mom next time though. :P

    BTExpress said...

    I hope you learned your lesson young lady!

    Marty said...

    Stay safe crazy woman! Glad to here that your mom did well with the surgery. Take care and remember ALL this in moderation - this floodwater is TOO MUCH!

    The Savage said...

    The look on your face is kissably priceless! Muah!

    G-Man said...

    Some people can walk on water..
    Some can't!!!

    But some can still look great while under tenuous conditions!!
    xo

    Lori said...

    OMG! ROFL You are such a character! I'm so glad nothing 'ontoward' happened to you. *hands on hips with that mother's knowing eye*

    Time to get back to Curves and leave the wilderness to dry for a bit? lol

    Anonymous said...

    wow!! girl, that is alotta water! love the picture of you!

    Have a great day, darlin'!

    buffalodick said...

    A flooded Hoo-ha? Hee-hee...

    Michele in Michigan said...

    omg--so glad you are OK. Don't ever do that again or we will round up a posse & come beat your butt!!!

    So glad your momma is doing well. I've been thinking about you guys.

    kimmyk said...

    wow.

    amazing how that happens so quickly.

    i'm sorry your hooha got ick water up near it. (snort)

    yeah. crazy how mother nature works.

    i'm glad you were okay. and sorry to see your beautiful walking trail so covered in brown icky water.